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Last updated: 21 November 2008
Parity plc took over the contract for Fast Stream candidate handling from Capita on 1st April 2003, in preparation for the delivery of the 2004 scheme. The most significant change in Parity's management of the recruitment process was the introduction of IT-based administration, to control the increasingly large volumes of applications cost effectively.
The application process for 2004 was restructured to include mandatory self-assessment, online application, and online stage one of the Qualifying Test. This was followed by invigilated computer based cognitive tests taken at a test centre. This first use by the Cabinet Office of computer based assessment proved successful and provided valuable experience for extending the use of this approach.
Last year's Recruitment Report outlined a research programme to evaluate the current Fast Stream selection process, and alternative approaches that might improve its efficiency and effectiveness. These included addressing known areas of concern about accessibility across the widest range of potential candidates. The audit and benchmarking work undertaken has included a major review of the competency based Fast Stream person specification, in parallel with research into the graduate selection procedures used currently by other ‘blue chip’ organisations.
As a result, the 2005 GFS open competition will make greater use of information technology and the Internet. Fast Stream selection will become a more accessible, convenient and transparent process for all candidates, including those without prior knowledge of the Fast Stream or the Civil Service. Technology will enable the process to be managed more efficiently and quickly.
The sift process will be more progressive, enabling a greater number of candidates to pass through the cognitive sift to a work simulation exercise. At the assessment centre, the final decision on recommendation for appointment will be based solely on the candidate's performance throughout the selection process. Assessors will not have information on a candidate's background, university attended or course studied. A ‘quality assurance’ assessor will oversee the ranking of candidates to ensure the validity and objectivity of the process.
The Cabinet Office contracted out development of the new selection processes following a series of tendering exercises. The appointed contractors are tasked with ensuring that the new processes are in line with the best of current practice and are diversity friendly. As now, all reasonable adjustments will be made at all stages to enable candidates with disabilities to compete on a fair basis with non-disabled candidates.